News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-10-27

place by the awkward but willing he'll
ers we had caught at a few moment
notice, my niece arrived, and with h
, came a graceful, ladylike girl, who's
looks attracted me greatly.
''Ruth, this is Aunt Hannah, " sal
my niece. "You didn't mind, did yol
Aunt Hannah? We thought you woul
not; and Ruth plays my accompan
ments so well. We always play t.
gether now"
had been so long away from the oil
home that 7 had fallen out of the know
edge of the young peoples friends; bu
from Ruth's looks was glad she shoul
be one of them, whoever she might be
The violin master came, and the les
! son gave me intense pleasure. Ruth
accompaniment was perfect; and as tn
violin was being carefully wiped and re
stored to its case, begged her to ''pla
me something an anything whateve
she loved -Mendelssohn for choic
il she would One after another sh
played my best loved old friends, and
turned impatiently when the footmal
opened the door and said ga gentleman
had called for the young lady with Mis-
Grey"
"My uncle" said Ruth, apologeti
cally.
''Pray, ask him to come in, I said
and the next moment Mike stood once
more before me. He bowed littl,
shyly, and l, with my back to the win
dow, stood spellbound and silent.
Yes, it was Mike-huge, winsomt
Mike; and L must greet him as best
might.
''Mr. Vivian" faltered, 'I-I had
no idea it was you"
Two huge strides brought him to my
side
"Hannah!" he shouted, "Miss Greyl
Why / was sent to Miss Sinclair S!
Have I come to the wrong house?
mouthed about this wonderful thing,
and chattered, merciful for me, till l
had recovered my balance little.
From time to time felt his eyes upon
me, and grew trife hot and angry un-
der it. Why should he look at me
now in that way? He had been married
for years, and well, I had settled into
my old maid ways-and had ''got over
it, as the saying goes.
As if we ever lost "the marks of that
which once had BEEN
As they all trooped out together, he
turned back at the door, and grasping
my hand tightly, said, "Why did you
say mot Mt home, nine long years ago2"
F'I didn't!' [ exclaimed, Indignantly,
in a stifed voice, you ''never came"
Didn't Il" he answered, and then he
was gone.
That night slept not at all. Back
wards and forwards that refrain rang in
my ears. Didn't r. Didn't II" Oh
Mike, oh, faithful-hearted Mike, have [
been wronging you all these years? Did
you come, did you ?-and l never knew
t-and now it is too late.
Does she love you, 1 wonder, as did
as I do, God help me, I must live it
lown and crush in under foot, but for
his one night [ will allow myself the
Oy of knowing that he did come-he
lid come; the rest cannot even guess
It.
Happy, miserable, restless, and yet
oothed, L came down next morning and
9und could settle down to nothing in
he way of business. The piano stood
here it had been placed the day before
Or the girls, and after many vain efforts
} attend properly to writing which
ught to have been done, [ wandered up
} it and sat me down istlessly, trying
, pick up the thread of all that child's |
fingers had done such full |
lstice to; and as [ played my heart |
rev lighter, and by degrees my Men
elssohns modulated off into lighter
usic, and l found myself beating time
1,-.4h fDal 70 IU,1l
uffel valse which had been dearer to
e than all beside How I played ! [
rev my heart, my whole heart into it,
ID as / came to the final chord | sud-
snly flung my arms upon the desk in
ont of me and burst into such passion
weeping as / had never i'll all my life
ven way to. How long l wept l do
1T know, but [ know that then and
ere l prayed with all my might for
rength to root out, for good and all,
is cruel, absorbing, disgraceful love,
I'd rising with one last strangled sob
id q firm determination that not an
her should escape me now or ever
ain, [ saw the door opening quietly,
ID in one moment Mike had hold of
'th my hands. In vain / tried to pull
EN- away. They were gently but firmly
ipped, und his dear voice spoke rapid
in agitated loving tones.
Don't speak, darling; l know what
III think. Let me speak first for the
ke of the dear old times. Let me clear
, matters first. l am not the black
ard you think me-God forbid Sit
wn, and let me speak"
What could 1 do but obey him? I
down, and as he spoke my heart
aped and danced within me till [ could
we shouted for Joy, and yet / felt
hamed of my delight. For had he
It gone through deep waters, dear fel-
W! The poor little frivolous childish
fe had lived but one year, but had
rought such havoc i'll that short time
at it were more charitable to tell moth
e of it to any who did not know the
iserable story already. Peace be with
ore.
isfortunes He had gone straight
ON my door the previous evening
own to the dear old home to see my
rother, and arrive mt that explanation. /
was simple enough.
~
Il morning nine years before, had been !
ightened about one of her infants, and
nd hidden the servants to admit no
he.
''Not for the young ladies, mum ? not
L Miss Hannah ?" the butler had asked,
Id she in all simplicity, poor soul, had
id and believed "Miss Hannah will
1T wish to see any one either" and so
e answer had been given full in his
ce when Mike had called.
'Miss Hannah Grey not at home
1u are sure 2" he had asked incredu-
usly.
"Quite sure, sir; my h'orders was
at Miss Hannah, pertickler, didn't
sh to no one who might call. Mr..
rey, SIR Mr.. Grey is h'out." IT,
The story had taken long to tell, but
hung upon every word of it, and as it
me to an end the honest, loving grey
Tes looked full into mine, and my
lnds were once more imprisoned. ."You
now my story now, my darling; if [
fought that you could-that you
Ould-
''Bless you! She wont mind" broke
l upon us in hoarsely confidential
Dnes, and springing up we faced round
)ward the window whence came the
-artling sounds.
Mikes protecting arm was round me
1 an instant, and Polly, swinging vio-
,ntly head downwards from the ring |
lside his cage, shrieked aloud, "Han- !
all Hannah You don't mind, do !